2. Chapter Two

2

Chapter Two

Brittany

S tanding in my best friend’s bathroom, I’m fixing my hair while she’s doing her makeup and laughing while we finish getting ready for girls night out. Clara and I have been best friends for years. Most specifically since we lived fifteen minutes away from each other and I helped her escape from her abusive prick of an ex. I got in late last night and crashed in Rhett’s room. I’ve missed my godson tremendously, so I’m taking any chance to suck up all the time with him I can get. We’ve swam, played with every toy he has, and had ‘adventures’ on the swing set. We napped, then he ditched me for his dad and some of his dads clones.

When I say clones I really mean clones. The four of them that I’ve seen so far all have the same face, only differing within inches of height, in shades of brown hair and green eyes. The only ones I haven’t seen are the two middle ones. Everyone’s been really nice, but Rowan says one of them is coming with us tonight to make sure we’re safe. They try to talk in code a lot like I don’t have access to google and haven’t looked him up. I know who Rowan Byrne is and what he does. He’s not losing points in my eyes as long as my best friend keeps that smile firmly in place and he’s the reason for it.

Clara breaks me out of my inner thoughts, “Does this look okay? I know we’re just going out for dinner and drinks, but I’m trying to make Rowan feral since he has to stay home.”

Unable to stop myself I laugh loudly, “Yeah babe, you look like sex on legs. Honestly, you should probably be prepared for him to take you right back upstairs. I’m thinking I’ll be going out solo tonight.”

Giggling, she moves behind me and grabs the curler out of my hand fixing a spot I must have missed in the back, “Oh, you’re hilarious. We’re going out. You’re looking stunning, and I’m going to enjoy watching you shut down every man in the bar.”

We take one last look at ourselves in the mirror. Both our hair is curled, Clara’s hair is brown where mine is a strawberry blonde, and her eyes are a dark brown, where mine are gray. However our makeup is also similar, both going for a more natural look. She’s sporting a navy dress that hits just above her knees tight in all the right places with the neckline providing just enough cleavage that it’ll drive Rowan crazy.

My dress is gold sequins, hitting my mid thigh. The plunging neckline making it less than decent but my boobs are taped in place, I don’t have a husband to consider, and I wouldn’t be opposed to finding a man to fuck me into a coma tonight. After slipping on my four inch gold heels that bring me to every bit of six feet, I’m ready to go dance with my bestie.

Clara also slips her own heels on, before she throws a black trench coat at me. “Put this on, Rhett will be downstairs and we don’t want him seeing his godmom dressed as a hooker.”

Laughing I shrug the coat on and close it, “Fine, but I’m taking it off as soon as he goes upstairs. I didn’t dress like this to cover myself up tonight. Come on, let’s make your husband swallow his tongue.”

We’re not even halfway down the stairs when Rowan’s sharp intake of breath filters up and I can’t help but smile to myself. This man is so madly in love with her. I’ve never been as happy for someone as I am for them.

My hand comes up to smother my smile when the next thing we hear is Rowan’s deep voice exclaim, “Absolutely not, Pretty Girl! Not without me there.”

A deep belly laugh comes from the couch facing away from us in the living room. “Give it up, Roe. She’s going out tonight without you, while you’re here hanging out with Little Bear I’ll be at the club watching your wife dance.”

Two things hit me at once; one that the gravely sexy voice that just shot tingles through my entire body is one I’ve yet to hear, and two who the fuck does he think he is making comments like that about my bestie? Rowan doesn’t even have a chance to respond before I’m flying down the rest of the stairs putting myself between Clara and whoever this man is.

“Who the fuck do you think you’re talking about like that? You aren’t watching her dance while her husband is here. We’ll go out by ourselves before I let some slime ball gawk at us all evening. ”

The mystery man slowly stands up, and turns around. I’m quick to realize I should have kept my mouth shut when this mountain of a man with the prettiest green eyes I’ve ever seen gives me a once over. He has to stand at least six inches taller than me in my heels. His jeans fit him like they were specifically made for his long legs, strong thick thighs, and trim waist. His black t-shirt fits him like a second skin, the cuffs hugging his strong biceps, his thick forearms making my mouth water. This man is ripped, and sexy as hell.

I bring my eyes up to his face, his strong jawline peppered with a neatly trimmed close cut beard. His hair is cut short on the sides and just a little bit longer on top. He looks like he could be some sort of fighter, definitely fitting the role of security he’ll play tonight. His sexy half grin has my eyes moving from his handsomely masculine face to his thick lips, then finally his breathtaking pale green eyes surrounded by thick long eyelashes.

Before he can say anything Clara clears her throat, “Um, Britt. It’s fine, this is..”

Mystery man holds his huge hand up to stop her, “No, let her continue. I’d love to find out what she thinks she can do to stop me from tagging along and ‘gawking’ at you guys all night.”

The nerve of this man, I don’t care how hot he is, he can fuck right off. “Oh you sweet, stupid man. Let me assure you, we can dodge you in a blink and you’ll never see it coming. You’re not going anywhere with us if you’re going to make crude comments at Clara. Frankly, the fact that Rowan hasn’t ripped out your jugular and shoved it up your ass has me second guessing my approval of him.”

The amusement dancing in his eyes disappears in an instant, replaced by barely contained anger. Rowan steps between us and puts his hands out in surrender facing me.

“Brittany, first off I’d never let anyone disrespect my wife. So if I thought he meant even a single word of the bullshit he just spewed he would be laid out unconscious on the floor right now. Second, let me introduce you to my little brother, Kieran.” My eyes widen in shock, oh shit. Kieran nods but says nothing to me. He looks at Rowan, sarcasm dripping from his words.

“I’ll be in the car, I’m assuming they can get themselves in the Tahoe without assistance.” Without waiting for a response he turns on his heels and stalks out of the door.

Gritting my teeth and turning to a smirking Clara, “You couldn’t have told me? Showed me a picture? Literally anything before we came down?”

Her and Rowan laugh in tandem for a solid minute before she wipes at her teary eyes, “I could have, but this was so much more fun. Kieran is such a sweet, lighthearted man, especially when it comes to Rhett and I. I’m not sure how you got him wound up so quickly. However if I was you I’d apologize and try to make it right with him.”

Rowan cuts in, “Seriously, he’s not a man you want to be on the bad side of, trust me.” Ugh, okay, maybe my temper got the best of me. I’m not above saying sorry when I’m wrong. Admitting fault to an insanely sexy man though? Yeah that’s going to be a tough pill to swallow.

After about ten minutes of Rowan trying to convince Clara to stay home and have their own ‘private party’ instead we finally make it out of the door and into the Tahoe. There’s a man I recognize as Killian who’s driving. Kieran sits in the passenger seat texting, he finally stops long enough to speak to Clara, “Where to, Mrs. Byrne?”

She rolls her eyes, “Seriously, we’re doing this tonight? She’s just protective, Kie. She didn’t know who you were.”

He nods but doesn’t turn around, “Yes ma’am. No problem, where to?”

She huffs and sits back, crossing her arms like a petulant child, “We’re going to The Byrne for dinner, then we’ll head over to Z13 for drinks after.”

Kieran shoots a, “Yes, Mrs. Byrne.” over his shoulder effectively cutting off the conversation. Okay, so I guess this night is going to be awkward.